Olivia Mamula, Cambridge Springs

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Olivia Mamula, Cambridge Springs cross countryERIE TIMES-NEWS

Cambridge Springs cross country runner Olivia Mamula said she never emerged victorious from an invitational before Saturday.

The junior picked a good one to finally win, and an even better moment to do it.

Mamula and West Middlesex's Kristen White were each timed at 20 minutes, 40 seconds in District 10's inaugural Class A race. However, the Blue Devils' standout was declared the official winner in a photo finish at Sharon's Buhl Park.

The elation that Mamula felt while she hugged all of her well-wishers was radically different from what she felt about 30 minutes earlier.

"I thought I was going to throw up and cry at the same time," she said of her anxiety at the starting line.

Mamula, though, wasn't too overwhelmed to keep up with White. Along with Cambridge Springs teammate Reilly Walsh, she was able to keep within striking distance of the Big Reds freshman throughout the rain-soaked, 3.1-mile course.

While Walsh dropped off and placed fourth overall, Mamula drafted White down the course's final chute and lunged past her at the finish line.

Mamula automatically qualified for this Saturday's inaugural PIAA Class A race at Hershey's Parkview Cross Country Course. Last year, she placed 51st (20:52) out of 284 entrants in its Class AA competition.

Online Extras

BLOG: To check out the Varsity blog for all your District 10 sports updates, click here.

UPLOAD YOUR OWN: To submit your photos from any local high school varsity sports events, click here.